SAT scores remain steady in state, U.S.

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SAT scores remained steady for California and the nation in 2013, with less than half of the high school students taking it meeting a benchmark score that indicates college readiness, according to results released today by the College Board.

In fact, scores have been stagnant for nearly five years, a situation that means more work is needed to prepare students for college, the College Board reported.

The SAT exam is given to students in more than 170 countries. Students who score at least 1550 are considered more likely to enroll in a four-year college and complete a bachelor's degree. Across the nation, 43 percent of students met the benchmark; in California, 47 percent did.

Scores of California students crept up two points over 2012, and outscored the national average by about 7 points.

Statewide, 234,767 test-takers scored an average 1505 out of 2400, made up of average scores of 498 in critical reading, 512 in math and 495 in writing. In 2012, students scored an average of 1503. But the numbers are down from 1513 in 2011.

The national average in 2013 remained exactly the same, at 1498, made up of an average 496 in critical reading, 514 in math and 488 in writing.

Eighty-eight percent of California's test-takers came from public schools. The state's scores rank 34th in the nation, although the College Board discourages state-to-state comparisons because the demographic makeup of test-taking groups varies wildly.

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